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Parenting for Greatness Part 1: The Crucial Role of the Sports Parent

Updated: Oct 25, 2022


Photograph by ERIC RAY DAVIDSON Copyright 2022 GQ. All rights reserved.


Welcome to the "Parenting for Greatness" series where I will be teaching you the psychology behind greatness in competitive sports. This is for the parents who want to help their child to get to the next level whether that is making the school team, becoming the best player on their team or making the transition from high school to the collegiate level!


As parents, you have a CRUCIAL ROLE to play in their child's success!


Without my parents...

Steve Pryce (My Dad)


Christine Pryce (My mom)


It would have been a MUCH harder road to becoming a pro! Parents are the only ones that unconditionally love their child, have their back and give advice too. On top of that, you put a lot of time and money into giving your child the BEST chance of success like my parents did.


You drive them to games, watch them play, even videotape their games (like my dad did), talk to coaches, buy them basketball gear and pay for them to play on teams. My dad also did research to helped me through the recruiting process!


You do a lot! Cheers to you!



You do all of this for your child in sports to hopefully:

  • have FUN playing

  • personally grow to be able to take on the world

  • be motivated to improve their talent level

  • reach their goals in sports

You also do this for your child to avoid (2017, Mulcahy):

  • Lack of enjoyment

  • Issues with coaches

  • sports becoming too competitive

  • putting too much pressure on your child


You deserve much more credit for your hard work but this series is not only for letting that fact be known in this post; but to also assist parents in helping their child realize what it REALLY takes to reach their potential and become great!

When I say great, I mean more than just basketball. The skills learned in the competitive environment that sports promotes are transferable to any endeavour! For instance:

  1. A future career (after retirement): for me that was creating my business

  2. Forming relationships: learning how to create lasting connects with others

  3. Being a leader: in my business I have to make decisions, be courageous and get out of my comfort zone to do things I've never done before.

  4. Being responsible: acting only in a way that is morally right and beneficial to their life and the people close to him or her

Competitive sports taught me every single one of these skills. And your child can learn these life skills as well but that's only if they obtain the mental skills necessary from them to learn, grow and achieve!


For your child to become great in their sport, they will need your assistance. In this series I will help you, help them become great!


In Part 2, is all about understanding the mentality you must instill in your child to overcome adversity and succeed!


Continue to part 2 below!


Reference:

  1. Mulcahy, G. Why Sport Participation in Canada is Declining. (2017, June 8). Paradigm Sports.



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